J

7_ClimateRegions_LectureSlides

Water, Weather, and Climate Systems

  • Definition: Involves the exchange of matter and energy across all spheres affecting Earth’s climate.

  • Climate: Overall weather patterns of a particular region over time.

  • Climatic Regions: Areas with similar weather statistics, primarily controlled by temperature and precipitation.

  • Climatology: The study of climate.

Tropical Climates

  • Characteristics: Consistently warm temperatures year-round, significantly affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and unstable maritime air masses.

Tropical Rain Forest

  • Climate: Consistently moist and warm, rainy throughout the year.

  • Weather Events: Convectional thunderstorms triggered by local heating and trade wind convergence.

Tropical Monsoon Climates

  • Location: Typically in coastal areas.

  • Rainfall: Occurs for 6-12 months, influenced by the ITCZ, with a dry season caused by subtropical highs.

Tropical Savanna Climates

  • Seasonal Changes: Dominated by the ITCZ during summer, resulting in wetter conditions, followed by dry periods as the ITCZ moves away.

Mesothermal Climates

  • Characteristics: Governed by shifting maritime and continental air masses with conflicts caused by cyclonic low-pressure and high-pressure systems.

  • Influences: Cooler sea-surface temperatures can weaken air masses, while warmer temperatures can strengthen them.

Humid Subtropical Climate

  • Seasons: Hot summers and mild winters.

  • Summer: Dominated by subtropical highs with occasional maritime air masses producing showers.

  • Winter/Spring: Influenced by cyclonic storm tracks, bringing cold and warm fronts.

Marine West Coast Climate

  • Overview: Features warm to cool summers and mild winters influenced by maritime conditions and cyclonic storm systems leading to convective thunderstorms in summer.

Mediterranean Climate

  • Summer: Dry with subtropical high influence.

  • Winter: Mild, controlled by cyclonic storm tracks, with most precipitation occurring in winter.

Microthermal Climates

  • Distinctiveness: Characterized by increased seasonality, with warm summers and cold winters.

  • Weather Patterns: Upper-level westerly winds and undulating Rossby waves affecting air movements.

Humid Continental Climate

  • Features: Hot to warm summers, cold winters, influenced by cyclonic storm tracks and maritime tropical air masses.

  • Climate Dynamics: Seasonal conflicts between maritime tropical and continental polar air masses.

Subarctic and Polar Climates

Subarctic Climate

  • Characteristics: Cool summers and very cold winters, dominated by continental air masses.

Polar Climates

  • Extremes: Length of daylight varies significantly between summer and winter, with low humidity and surface albedo effects, resulting in frozen desert regions.

Polar Tundra

  • Location: High latitudes and elevations, typically with permafrost, snow cover lasting 8-10 months, and small plants during short summer months.

Polar Marine Climate

  • Moderation: Temperatures never falling below -7°C in the warmest month, contrasting with the polar continental climate.

Dry Climates

  • Causes: Arise from factors such as subtropical high-pressure belts, rain shadow effects, and continental interiors far from moisture-bearing air masses.

Desert Climates

  • Types:

    • Arid Deserts: Dominated by subtropical high pressure, can be hot (tropical/subtropical) or cold (mid-latitude).

    • Semiarid Steppes: Flat grasslands surrounding deserts influenced by high pressure or continental air masses.